Momo

Sun Qian

My final thoughts on The Early Spring 🌸

I remember watching the trailer and immediately thinking, “You know what? This is going to be epic.” Then I started episode 1 and within seconds I was HOOKED. 😭 I knew I had found something special, and they genuinely did not disappoint.

As I continued watching, I became so intrigued by Luke and Flora’s relationship. They had so much mutual love and affection for each other, but expressing that love in the way the other person needed was where things became difficult. I loved being able to see both sides, even when I personally struggled to understand one of them. It made me stop, think, look at things differently and even research other perspectives.

What I loved most was watching two imperfect, flawed people fall in love, mess things up, misunderstand each other, hurt each other, and somehow still find their way back because they genuinely loved each other. They grew. They learned. They became better versions of themselves.

And I think the biggest thing this drama taught me is exactly what its theme says:

You don't have to be perfect to be worthy of love.

I genuinely think they perfected that theme. ❤️

I’m so grateful I got to experience Luke and Flora from beginning to end. This might genuinely be my favourite C-drama of 2026. I’m going to miss them, the edits, the discussions, reading everyone's theories and opinions, and this little community we built while watching together.

Thank you, The Early Spring, for giving me such precious memories. I’ll forever remember this drama and the way it made me feel. 🌸

Goodbye, Luke and Flora. I’m so happy I got to know you. ❤️

the kiss scene from the kitchen to the bathroom to the room was just CHef_ kiss 💋, i was literally astonished 😲

let's just hold hands together 👀😭

me toooo

So honestly, I'm starting to think Episode 18 isn't asking us to pick “Team Flora” or “Team Luke.”
It's asking:
“Can these two people stop protecting themselves long enough to actually understand each other?”
And judging by Episode 18...
Apparently that is an Olympic-level challenge for them. 😭🤣

they're both wrong if they expect the other person to magically know what they're feeling.
That's the tragedy of these two. They don't necessarily need to love each other more.
They need to stop assuming and actually tell each other what the hell is going on inside their heads. 😭
But, they can’t even do that for crying out aloud, BREAK UP ARC plsss plss

ty 😊

Flora and Luke are basically a dramatic 30-episode demonstration of not knowing how to emotionally fully communicate 😭
So, therefore, my strategy now is to:

Stop analysing. Stop defending them. Stop diagnosing their relationship.
Just sit there like:
😐🍿
“Well. Let's see what these two idiots do next.”
🤣🤣🤣
Because at this point, after 18 episodes, I've done enough unpaid couples therapy.

indeed!!! which is why the breakup arc needs to come fast 🏃‍♂️

Omg, i didn't think of this!! I love this explanation, maybe this might be Flora herself here 🤣.....Ty for this
also, the “big gun” part makes the situation even funnier because Luke would probably HATE that interpretation. He'd be standing there thinking, “Why am I your boss when I'm literally your man?” while Flora is probably thinking, “I am NOT making this reunion about my relationship.” 😭
BUT that's an interesting contradiction

Flora: feels → overthinks → keeps it inside → makes her own decision → Luke finds out later.
Luke: feels → overthinks → becomes insecure → says something sarcastic/harsh → Flora withdraws → Luke gets even more confused.
IT'S A CYCLE. 😭

No matter how I rack my brain, I can't think of why Flora didn't tell her ex Luke was her bf....i just cannot think of anything but one thing we should know from Flora's character that i think is that she is a person that really sets a clear boundaries between public and private things, she doesn't let anything ruin the boundaries of that in her head, tho idk whether that is an excuse for not introducing Luke as your bf..cause even though she thinks that, they were the only one there, no staff members and the ex just suddenly came. so is it not wise to just quickly introduce Luke as ur bf so that the ex also set boundaries if he see that you are already living another life...this is the one Flora's action that I do not genuinely understand in the drama..
I think this is one of the things Flora will look back on and think, " why did i not just say Luan nian was my bf"? Or maybe she even already regretted saying he was her boss, not bf?🤔
[ just to say this is not me taking any sides, I am not...Just stating my own thoughts]

After that bridge talk scene they're both basically saying:
Flora: Will you build a future with me?

Luke: What if I'm not the person you actually need?

And neither of them is saying the thing they actually mean.

It should be:
Flora: I choose you.
Luke: I'm scared of losing you.
😭 COMMUNICATE, PLEASE.

When is the breakup please 🙏

i think people are forgetting the main theme of this drama: " You don't have to be perfect to be worthy of love"

Luke went after the guys who hurt Flora and damaged her home without telling her. He made that decision himself, dealt with it privately, and Flora wasn't given the opportunity to know what he was doing or decide how she wanted him involved.
Flora dealt with Dony’s harassment without telling Luke. She made the decision herself, gathered evidence, reported it through the proper channel, and tried to maintain control over something deeply personal and frightening...

Obviously, the situations aren't identical — Luke's situation involved confronting people who had harmed her, while Flora's involved workplace sexual harassment. But the underlying behaviour is surprisingly similar: “Something happened to the person I love, and I’m going to handle it myself without immediately telling them.”
And that's why I'm like... why is Luke's secrecy interpreted as protective/masculine but Flora's secrecy is interpreted as “she doesn't see him as her boyfriend”?? 😭
That's where the male-centric standard I am talking about can come in.
Because Luke's behaviour gets framed as:
“He was protecting her 🥺 He didn't want to worry her.”
But when Flora does something emotionally similar:
“She treats him like a situationship 🚩 She doesn't trust him 🚩 She's a red flag.”
GIRLLLL. 😭

After the 3 years breakup arc: I don't think Flora's lesson should be:
“Next time something bad happens, tell Luke immediately.”
That's too simplistic.
Her lesson should be:
“I can make my own decisions AND still allow the person I love to support me.”
Because Flora should absolutely retain her independence.
She should still report Dony herself.
She should still make her own choices.
She should still have her own career.
She shouldn't suddenly become:
“Luke, fix everything for me 🥺.”
NOOO. 😭
The healthier version is:
“I'm handling this. But you don't have to stand outside the door while I do it.”
THAT is the difference.

And Luke's lesson should be:
“If Flora tells me something, I don't automatically have to take over. Sometimes she needs me to listen, not fight.”
That would be massive character development for both of them.

omg, THIS!!! i even forgot where they were and didn't even notice....but even though I am not on any sides

agreed....we are going to be more than thankful for the breakup arc 🙏🤣

exactly THIS!! you are 💯right....That's why I am not one sided just blaming Flora, at the end of the day, their relationship foundation is still somehow slightly and wrong in some ways as you said....that's why I am glad they broke up and took 3 years apart from each other